I am being upgraded from Mum to Nan - I need a plan!

Mum2Nan

@Blackcats, sorry I haven’t sent you a message yet.  I decided to wait to see if I had been selected for interview and the good news is, I have!  I found out about 2 hours ago and it’s still sinking in.  I didn’t get my first choice and to be fair I was being optimistic, but I have been selected for choices 2 and 3.  This is the first Friday in a few weeks where it’s been good news rather than bad!  I don’t think HR have kept to one of their deadlines during this whole process so far. 

In other news, BF has been here most of the week again.  We have had an issue with the keys I gave him, in that he kept buzzing on the intercom and so last night put my foot down and ignored it.  He would have pretty much known I was in seeing my car was parked downstairs, but I was determined and eventually he hesitantly let himself in.  This is such a big step for me too.  My flat is comfortable with one and now there are two of us plus Laurel & Hardy.  He will go home twice a week though as he is an only child and his parents are in their early 80s and we still are in a trial period, well we are as far as I am concerned.

Blackcats

Hello mum2nan.  Sounds like a good week for you and I'm glad you and BF are happy spending more time together.
great to have an interview coming up.  I've been thinking about some more hints and tips so please feel free to get in touch when you are ready.  

[Deleted User]

Good luck with your interview! 😊

Mum2Nan

@Blackcats I have now sent you a message - thanks for your help.

@smushesma, thanks for your good wishes!

BF went home this morning and I am glad to have had the day to myself.  I really don't think this flat is big enough for the both of us or may be I just need to get used to sharing again.  It's been a long time.

I had a mini pamper this morning and have spent a little time this afternoon trying to prepare for another mock interview with immediate boss at 9 am tomorrow morning. I am improving but my nerves are getting the better of me again.  I am yet to receive the formal invite with date / time but hope I am given at least a couple more days to prepare.  I feel nervous even though I've been doing a similar role for the past 9 years or so.

My usual shopping turned up yesterday but increased a bit due to having BF here.  I paid for yesterday's but if he wants to eat in future he will have to contribute to the food bill, especially with job insecurity for me at the moment.

I've not gone to my parents today.  I called them early to let them know.  Mum answered which was a relief - it's so much easier to tell her because she is the practical one.  She totally understood.  I said I would drive over one night this coming week to catch-up but only if the weather is decent so we can sit in the garden.

Blackcats

Hello, just to say I've sent you a reply to your message. 

Mum2Nan

I think I have set a record for the most mock interviews ever in conjunction with practice sessions culminating in the real interview this afternoon (I only found out yesterday!).  I've done my absolute best.  I've taken it all very seriously and using the STAR competency guidelines issued by my company and advised by @Blackcats along with the JDs and my PDR. 

I can do no more. 

I'm annoyed with myself as I left out 3 or 4 salient points (to me at least) but it's now a waiting game.  I feel mentally drained.  I think I have to wait at least 10 days to find out if I have been successful but this is hardly surprising considering the delays that have happened already.  

The weather wasn't very helpful as we were all melting, this was with doors and windows open and fans on but at least we agreed to switch cameras off during the interview which definitely helped me with relaxing a bit more. 

My immediate boss has been my harshest critic but a tower of support and help.  The sad thing is, I won't be working for him if I succeed in securing a new role and can't help feeling sad about it.  He could potentially end up as my line manager though so I guess that's better than nothing.

At least it's now over and I can start to concentrate on other things. 

I am going to have a well deserved glass of wine and an early night.

Blackcats

well done!  I'm sure you did very well.  I hope you get the outcome soon.  Enjoy that glass of wine 🍷.  Hopefully you'll have cause for celebration soon 🍾

beanielou

You will be glad that is over.
Hope you hear soon.

Mum2Nan

It’s been a roller coaster ride again this week on the job front.  I had a meeting with HR on Monday afternoon to discuss potential roles and redundancy package.   I absolutely feared the worst.

I finally received a call from HR late yesterday afternoon to let me know I had secured both roles (choices 2 & 3).  BF came home with a couple of bottles of prosecco to celebrate but I fell asleep on the sofa.  I am contemplating which role I want out of the two and only have another 3 days to think about it.  I am on my own tonight as BF has gone out with some work colleagues so now wish I had made more effort last night. 

Needless to say, Mum & Dad and the rest of my family are very relieved and pleased as is immediate boss.  I called him first as he has given me such a lot of support.

In more mundane life, Tuesday, I took delivery of my usual bulk cat litter order.  Wednesday, I returned to the office, I am thinking of going in one day a week to begin with.  Central London looked like a ghost town.  So many shops still closed.  All that aside and despite not knowing job situation it was nice to ‘see people’.   A few of us went out for lunch as part of the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme.  6 of us on a table for 12.  It almost felt like pre-lockdown as some normality briefly returned.

I’m seeing my family tomorrow but will be going early as need to leave early as a couple of my work colleagues are coming over in the evening as they’ve also secured their roles.  BF will be here but they won’t mind.   Even though it’s good news for me, we have lost over a third of our workforce within my team so it’s a bitter sweet result really.

I am planning on taking some well earned and deserved annual leave in the next week or two.  I have been reluctant to use it as holiday would have been paid if I hadn’t secured the roles.

These past few weeks have really made me realise how vulnerable I am so I will be taking a two pronged approach to paying off the remainder of my debt because I also want to put some savings aside.  We could potentially have a second wave of redundancies in February / March next year if the economy doesn’t pick up.  For the second time, I have cancelled my mortgage holiday!  One more month to go and I shall start receiving my pre-lockdown pay.

@Blackcats, thanks for all your hints, tips and support.

beanielou

That’s fantastic news for you. 

As you say batten down the hatches & get some more debt paid off. 😊👏